AphantasiaResearch
Explore a comprehensive collection of academic papers, research studies, and scientific publications about aphantasia, imagery, and cognitive neuroscience.
Rendering aphantasia into the social realm
Aphantasia is linked to factual autobiographical memory and reduced empathy for verbal narratives. This suggests that mental imagery is a key component of social cognition and our ability to share experiences.
Zeman, A., Digard, B., Happé, F., Levine, B., & Monzel, M. (2026). Rendering aphantasia into the social realm. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2025.11.014
A decade of aphantasia research – and still going!
A decade of research shows aphantasia is a heterogeneous condition with five dimensions of variation, including sensory reach and spatial imagery. This suggests it is a diverse spectrum of abstract rather than experiential cognitive styles.
Zeman, A. (2025). A decade of aphantasia research – and still going!. Neuropsychologia, 219, 109278. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2025.109278
Definition: Aphantasia
Researchers defined aphantasia as the absence of imagery and proposed specific labels for deficits across various sensory modalities. This provides a standardized framework to improve consistency in scientific research and clinical diagnosis.
Zeman, A., Monzel, M., Pearson, J., Scholz, C. O., & Simner, J. (2025). Definition: aphantasia. Cortex, 182, 212–213. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2024.07.019
Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes
Aphantasia is linked to altered neural connectivity and reduced autobiographical memory, though dreaming is often preserved. This shows that conscious sensory imagery is not a prerequisite for high-level cognition or creative achievement.
Zeman, A. (2024). Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: exploring imagery vividness extremes. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(5), 467–480. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2024.02.007
Plural Imagination: Diversity in Mind and Making
Research validates that mental imagery varies dramatically across individuals, from aphantasia (no imagery) to hyperphantasia (vivid imagery), with neural and behavioral evidence confirming these differences are genuine. Artists' creative practices correlate with their imagery vividness, using visual or alternative cognitive means accordingly.
MacKisack, M., Aldworth, S., Macpherson, F., Onians, J., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2022). Plural imagination: diversity in mind and making. Art Journal, 81(3), 70–87. doi:10.1080/00043249.2022.2110444
Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: A response to Lambert and Sibley (2022) and Simner and Dance (2022)
Researchers propose defining aphantasia as the absence of voluntary sensory imagery across any modality. This unified terminology avoids confusing new jargon while acknowledging that imagery extremes often affect multiple senses.
Monzel, M., Mitchell, D., Macpherson, F., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2022). Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: a response to lambert and sibley (2022) and simner and dance (2022). Cortex, 152, 74–76. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.04.003
Aphantasia, dysikonesia, anauralia: call for a single term for the lack of mental imagery–Commentary on Dance et al. (2021) and Hinwar and Lambert (2021)
Researchers argue that aphantasia should be the universal term for lacking mental imagery across all sensory modalities. This unified terminology prevents confusion and facilitates clearer communication within the scientific community.
Monzel, M., Mitchell, D., Macpherson, F., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2022). Aphantasia, dysikonesia, anauralia: call for a single term for the lack of mental imagery–commentary on dance et al. (2021) and hinwar and lambert (2021). Cortex, 150, 149–152. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.02.002
Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery extremes
Researchers found that aphantasics use non-visual labeling strategies to succeed on tasks typically associated with mental imagery. This demonstrates the brain's multirepresentational nature and proves visualization is not required for complex thought.
Keogh, R., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (n.d.). Aphantasia: the science of visual imagery extremes. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 277–296. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-821377-3.00012-X
Behavioral and Neural Signatures of Visual Imagery Vividness Extremes: Aphantasia versus Hyperphantasia
Aphantasia is linked to reduced autobiographical memory and weaker connectivity between prefrontal and visual brain networks. This validates aphantasia as a distinct neurobiological condition with measurable behavioral and neural signatures.
Milton, F., Fulford, J., Dance, C., Gaddum, J., Heuerman-Williamson, B., Jones, K., Knight, K. F., MacKisack, M., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2021). Behavioral and neural signatures of visual imagery vividness extremes: aphantasia versus hyperphantasia. Cerebral Cortex Communications, 2(2). doi:10.1093/texcom/tgab035
What is the relationship between Aphantasia, Synaesthesia and Autism?
Aphantasics experience synaesthesia at typical rates but report higher autistic traits in social and imaginative domains. This suggests visual imagery is not required for synaesthesia but may support social and imaginative cognition.
Dance, C., Jaquiery, M., Eagleman, D., Porteous, D., Zeman, A., & Simner, J. (2021). What is the relationship between aphantasia, synaesthesia and autism?. Consciousness and Cognition, 89, 103087. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2021.103087
Phantasia–The psychological significance of lifelong visual imagery vividness extremes
Aphantasia is linked to scientific careers and memory deficits, while hyperphantasia correlates with creative roles and synaesthesia. This suggests that imagery extremes are heritable variations with broad psychological significance.
Zeman, A., Milton, F., Della Sala, S., Dewar, M., Frayling, T., Gaddum, J., Hattersley, A., Heuerman-Williamson, B., Jones, K., MacKisack, M., & Winlove, C. (2020). Phantasia–the psychological significance of lifelong visual imagery vividness extremes. Cortex, 130, 426–440. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.003
The neural correlates of visual imagery vividness – An fMRI study and literature review
Researchers found that lower imagery vividness correlates with higher frontal activity and lower posterior activation. This suggests that weak imagery may rely on more effortful, non-visual cognitive control.
Fulford, J., Milton, F., Salas, D., Smith, A., Simler, A., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2018). The neural correlates of visual imagery vividness – an fmri study and literature review. Cortex, 105, 26–40. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.014
On Picturing a Candle: The Prehistory of Imagery Science
Researchers found that historical philosophical debates about visualization prefigure and inform modern neuroscientific findings on mental imagery. This context helps scientists resolve theoretical conflicts and better understand the mind's eye.
MacKisack, M., Aldworth, S., Macpherson, F., Onians, J., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2016). On picturing a candle: the prehistory of imagery science. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00515
Reflections on aphantasia
Researchers found lifelong aphantasia is a stable neurological state involving a lack of voluntary imagery. This suggests the condition is a fundamental variation in human experience rather than a psychological disorder.
Zeman, A., Dewar, M., & Della Sala, S. (2016). Reflections on aphantasia. Cortex, 74, 336–337. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2015.08.015
Refusing to imagine? On the possibility of psychogenic aphantasia. A commentary on Zeman et al. (2015)
Researchers suggest that aphantasia can have psychogenic origins linked to conditions like anxiety and depersonalization. This indicates that clinical evaluations of imagery loss should include psychopathological examinations.
de Vito, S., & Bartolomeo, P. (2016). Refusing to imagine? on the possibility of psychogenic aphantasia. a commentary on zeman et al. (2015). Cortex, 74, 334–335. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2015.06.013
Lives without imagery – Congenital aphantasia
Researchers characterized congenital aphantasia as a lifelong lack of voluntary imagery that often spares involuntary imagery. This indicates that voluntary and involuntary visualization rely on distinct neurological pathways.
Zeman, A., Dewar, M., & Della Sala, S. (2015). Lives without imagery – congenital aphantasia. Cortex, 73, 378–380. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2015.05.019
Loss of imagery phenomenology with intact visuo-spatial task performance: A case of ‘blind imagination’
A patient with aphantasia performed normally on imagery tasks by using alternative strategies and frontal brain regions. This shows that task performance can be dissociated from the subjective experience of mental imagery.
Zeman, A. Z., Della Sala, S., Torrens, L. A., Gountouna, V.-E., McGonigle, D. J., & Logie, R. H. (2010). Loss of imagery phenomenology with intact visuo-spatial task performance: a case of ‘blind imagination’. Neuropsychologia, 48(1), 145–155. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.08.024
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